Future generations of firefighters rolled up their sleeves for the Junior Public Safety Day Camp held last week at Chester County Public Safety Training Campus in South Coatesville, writes Ginger Dunbar for Daily Local News.

During the experience, the junior firefighters were given class instructions and hands-on training in Emergency Management.

Most of the participants are following in the footsteps of their family members. Fifteen-year-old Jeff Seese became involved with the fire service thanks to his father, Chief Jeff Seese. He started learning about house fires from a young age, when his father took him in the chief’s vehicle to calls.

Today, young Seese also plans to become a career firefighter, with the safety camp another step towards that goal.

“We learn how to stabilize the vehicle with cribbing and we are mindful of the victim,” he said. “If they are hurt we don’t want to hurt them more.”

According to Emergency Services Deputy Director Beau Crowding, the annual summer camp engages younger members and teaches them basic operations. It also helps foster the future volunteers that are critical for local fire companies.